Jun 01, 2009

Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison Come Together for World Premiere of "The Beatles:Rock Band"

MUSIC NEWS - Original band membersSir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, appeared together today to kick off the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit in L.A. and fpr the world premiere of The Beatles : Rock Band. They didn't play the game, but others demo'd it (see below) but the annoucemnet immpressed all on this first-of-its-kind music-based video game that will offer a revolutionary tour of The Beatles' music, career, and legacy. The game will be released worldwide on 9/09/09 (for Xbox360, PLAYSTATION3 and Wii systems). That's the same day as the release of the full, original, digitally re-mastered Beatles CD catalogue (order below).

The game will be the first time fans will be able to experience The Beatles' musical career for themselves. From their early touring days in 1963 Liverpool to the memorable, final performance atop the Apple Corps building, you will be able to follow in the band's footsteps as they travel the globe at the height of Beatlemania. Players will also be able to to experience three-part vocal harmonies int the game play, allowing gamers to revel in the vocal harmonies of the Fab Four. You'll also hear previously unreleased authentic voice recordings from John, Paul, George and Ringo chatting between takes during studio sessions recorded at Abbey Road more than four decades ago.

Of The Beatles' huge catalogue of music, 45 songs will be available on-disc. Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovativeLOVE album project and Music Supervisor / Creative Producerfor The Beatles : Rock Band, unveiled the first ten songs that will be on the game-disc: "I Saw Her Standing There," "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "I Feel Fine," "Taxman," "Day Tripper," Back In The USSR," "I Am The Walrus," "Octopus's Garden," "Here Comes The Sun," and "Get Back." Additional songs will be announced at a later date. Along with these 45 songs, the entire Abbey Road album will be available for download purchase (date tbd), as will additional music from The Beatles' catalogue.

It was also announced today that the Beatles' tune, "All You Need Is Love," will be released exclusively on Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft as a downloadable song for The Beatles: Rock Band through Xbox LIVE on September 9, 2009 with all proceeds benefitting the charity, Doctors Without Borders. Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, personally selected the international emergency medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971 as the beneficiary of the proceeds from the sales of "All You Need Is Love" for The Beatles: Rock Band. Doctors Without Borders provides aid in more than 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters.

The Beatles: Rock Band

story mode will take fans on an interactive, experiential journey through The Beatles career. Along the way, venues, set lists, clothing and instruments will replicate the band's rise to fame, represented in The Beatles' touring period from 1963 to1966 and their studio days from 1966 to 1969. The gameplay with place you at the band's earliest days at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. Gamers will then travel across the Atlantic to experience the band's unforgettable 1964 performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, the sold-out concert at the, now demolished, New York's Shea Stadium in 1965, and conclude at The Beatles' memorable concert at Budokan in Tokyo, Japan in 1966.

The Beatles' studio years will come to life in legendary Studio 2 at Abbey Road Studios. Highlighting the studio years are inspired artistic visual expressions known as Dreamscapes, intended to transport players to imaginative environments that capture the essence of The Beatles' genre-busting musical and fashion transformations during their later years. The game follows The Beatles to 1969 where story mode wraps up with their final performance on the rooftop of the Apple Corps Headquarters. Previously announced, The Beatles: Rock Band will offer a set of hardware replicas representing instruments made famous by John, Paul, George and Ringo. Featured in the set are the Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet guitars--hailed as two of the celebrated, signature instruments played by John Lennon and George Harrison throughout their careers. Also included is a Höfner bass controller--a large-scale replica of the bass famously used by Sir Paul. Ringo Starr also gets his item, a Ringo inspired, Ludwig-branded Rock Band 2 drum set with a classic pearl finish and vintage replica Beatles kick drum head.

The Beatles: Rock Band will be available simultaneously worldwide in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories on 09/09/09. View the trailer, below;